Who we are

Who We Are...

What IS Kaleidoscope Grief Center?

Arkansas’ only grief center serving children and their families.
Arkansas’ only center that focuses exclusively on the process of healing through the grief journey.

What does Kaleidoscope Grief Center do?

We promote the process of healing through serving critically ill and grieving children, teens and their families.

How do you “serve” these families?

With our Kaleidoscope of Caring Services:

Twice monthly Peer Support Bereavement Groups for ages 5-adult.
Arkansas’ only grief camp, Camp Healing Hearts, for the entire family.
Individual and/or family grief and bereavement counseling w/ licensed professionals.
Kaleidoscope Kids Club social events for children 5-18.
Supportive Care for the critically ill child aged birth -18 provides compassionate emotional support for the family.

What’s so important about grief work?

So many children (1.2 million nationally) will lose a parent by age 15 and many more will lose siblings, other relatives, caregivers, and close friends. These profound losses affect daily lives, academic and social functioning, and growth toward adulthood.
Children who have experienced these profound losses are more often depressed, angry, distracted in school, and feel alienated from peers. They display more academic and behavior problems.
Research shows that the death of a parent may be THE most traumatic single event to affect the well-being and health of a developing child and adult depression, schizophrenia, drug problems and alcohol use may be linked to childhood bereavement.

What makes Kaleidoscope Grief Center different?

We work exclusively with grief and bereavement issues in the family.
We are nonprofit.
We provide services regardless of any family’s ability to pay.

How are you funded?

As a nonprofit, we rely on private and corporate community support, donations, and contributions. We receive no government subsidies or financial support.
Fundraisers: Annual Auction. Have-A-Heart Sunday.
Kaleidoscope Resale Shop. All purchases benefit Kaleidoscope and our programs.

What can I do to help?

Donate your TIME: Volunteering:

Peer Support Bereavement Group Facilitators and/or Helpers
Camp Healing Hearts Facilitators and/or Helpers
General office / clerical assistance
Help with Fundraisers
Publicity / Marketing
Kaleidoscope Kids Club chaperones and/or helpers
Board Membership

Make a Tax-Deductible Contribution or Donation:

Monetary:

As a memorial
Sponsor a family / child opportunities

Peer Support Bereavement Group, $69 per person/month

Peer Support Bereavement Group, $207 per family/mo.

Camp Healing Hearts, $71 per person

Program Sponsorship
80% of every donation dollar goes directly to program support

Other:

Items for our Auction
Gently used items for Kaleidoscope Resale Boutique
Supplies for Programs and/ or Events
Office Supplies
Shopping at Kaleidoscope Resale Boutique

What are Peer Support Bereavement Groups?

Held twice monthly in our offices, these concurrent sessions for children and adults help families realize that their reactions and feelings of grief are normal and are actually an expression of healing.
Although facilitated by clinical staff and trained volunteers, these groups are not clinical therapeutic sessions, but true peer support and mutual aid where kids are helping kids and parents are helping parents.
Activities vary by age range but include writing a goodbye letter to the deceased and placing it in a helium balloon and releasing it… thereby literally and figuratively “letting go”.

How does that help?

Peer Support Bereavement Groups help children and families:

Explore and cope with their feelings around death
Realize that grief is a process, not an event
Express conflicted emotions surrounding death in an atmosphere of compassion and support
Feel understood and gain a sense of normalcy
Understand that they are not to blame for the death
Not suffer alone
Rejoin a community of peers
Regain a sense of control over their lives

What is Camp Healing Hearts?

Arkansas’ first and only grief camp for children and their families. We offer therapeutic and recreational activities designed to help families reflect on their experiences, reconnect with each other, and rediscover hope for the future.
Developed and facilitated by a growing community coalition of experts in the grief field.
Incorporates Peer Support Bereavement Groups
Recreational activities include Ropes Courses, Fishing, Arts & Crafts

For 2008 it will be held May 16-May17 at the newly renovated Camp Aldersgate.

History of Kaleidoscope Grief Center!

Our Board of Directors:

2008-2009 Officers of the Corporation

VICE-PRESIDENT David Deere, LCSW, M.Th. Associate Director, Partners for Inclusive Communities, UAMS PhD Candidate, Health Services Research Co-Founder, Arkansas Homeless Coalition Advisory Board, Center for Effective Parenting Board Member Since 2006	TREASURER Jim Gates Exec. Board member, Colony West POA CFO at PDC, Inc and Uniforce Electronic Retired - Board Member Since 2002

SECRETARY Cristin Chase Mammarelli Cristin Chase Mammarelli is currently a stay-at-home mother of two, a freelance writer and a volunteer advocate for Kaleidoscope Grief Center, as well as for fundraising events for the ALS Clinic & Research Center at UAMS, promoting awareness and funds for Lou Gehrig’s Disease in Arkansas. In the past she has worked full-time for many non-profit organizations in public relations and marketing roles.

2008-2009 Board of Directors

Larry Bencick Senior Financial Analyst, Alltel Communications Certified Public Accountant BS - Accounting - University of Arkansas at Little Rock Member:American Institute of CPA, Arkansas Society of CPA Board Member Since 2008	Shannon Collier-Tenison, PhD, MSW Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Social Work Investigator and Needs Assessors of various community programs to include Hurricane Katrina Evacuees in Arlington, TX, crisis intervention for survivors of domestic violence, and many others. Board Member Since 2006

Gibson Garrett Research Analyst, UAMS Managed Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute's Cancer Education Center Data Analysis for Chancellor I. Dodd Wilson Member: P.E.O., Little Rock Chi Omega Alumnae Board Member Since 2008	Fant Jarrett National Service Manager for Xerox Corp-Retired Vice Chair., Central AR Salvation Army Adv Board Volunteer, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Rotary Club-Member Scottish Rite Mason, Masonic Lodge #508 Scimitar Shiner-Member Board Member Since 2006

Kathleen A. Kennally Director of Operations, MailSouth, Inc. Founder of the Sassy Chic Show, an art and craft show. Formerly on the board of directors for the Memphis Advertising Federation and hosted the “Call for Entries” for the Addy Awards. Co-author of the Simply Sin’sational Cookbook. Received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Kentucky. Board Member Since 2007.	Nikki Robertson Twin City Bank - Branch Manager, Heights Community Organization Involvement: Miracle League, Susan G. Komen, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, and more. Board Member Since 2008

Theresa Travis, MD Co-Founder of Kaleidoscope of Caring, Inc Co-Owner of Hospice Home Care, Inc Executive Medical Director for Hospice Home Care, Inc Specialist in Palliative Care & Pain Management Board Member Since 1996	Ruth Tyson, ABR, CRS, GRI Executive Broker, Coldwell Banker Realty Active in local church Treasurer for Arkansas Chapter of Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) 21 years experience in Real Estate Board Member Since 2006

Kim Willse Exec. Board member, Hospice Home Care Foundation, Inc Payroll and other functions at Hospice Home Care, Inc. Board Member Since 2006

Our Staff:

Executive Director Joan Gates Service Director, ALLTEL Comm., Inc-Retired Previous Board member, Kaleidoscope Kids (2002-2004) Employee since 2004	Program Coordinator Janet Breen, M.Ed, LAC 1997 grad., Purdue University, M.Ed.- Community Counseling 1982 grad., Augustana College- B.A. Licensed Associate Counselor since 2002Life After Loss Grief Facilitator since 2001 Employee since 1997

Clinical Coordinator/Therapist Gigi Peters, LMSW 2005 Graduate of University of Arkansas at Little Rock- Social Work 1984 Graduate of University of Arkansas at Little Rock Licensed Master of Social Work Employee since 2007	Administrative Assistant (Part-time) Irene Griffeth Service Manager, ALLTEL Comm., Inc – Retired Previous Volunteer , Kaleidoscope Kids (2003-2006) Employee since 2006

Resale Boutique Manager (Part-time) Marcella Jones Previous Board member, Kaleidoscope Kids (2000-2005) Employee since 2005 Resale Boutique Sales Associate Margaret Jenkins Employee since 2001	Resale Boutique Manager (Part-time) Kevin Carson Employee since 2008